Wednesday

I often make books from the treasured objects you entrust me with, and because I know these objects are so very dear to you, I take great care over them - greater care than I do my own amethyst ring, left to me by my mother.

After all, I still carry her in my mind's eye. I see her features staring back at me in my daughters' eyes. That glassy purple dress ring? It can wander about my half-dozen cardboard boxes of random jewelleries and costumeries like an old traveller, shuttling between offices Lost and Found.

But your objects! You have no idea how carefully I handle them. I unwrap them, gently, them wrap them up again to lock them in a special cupboard, a tiny-sized Alice in Wonderland sort of cupboard that is itself transported from another place and time, oak-grain and salvaged, now attached to the wall, to contain, like a Victoriana safe, the tiny things you sent me.

When your book is scheduled - and I do, I do, I do keep on track - then I lay out your objects, this moment their ceremony, and think about how they speak to me and tell me how they need to flow between the pages of your book.

And Oh No! This object! this thorny, prickly seed head! It explodes! It shatters across the desk, dried spears of seeds, skewering net and lace, and leaving a dusty, hollow head and my mouth forming an Oh No!

So I think about this for a while.

I have a philosophy of life which says that every weakness is also a strength, and every event another step on the way to becoming wiser, more thoughtful, less hasty, less imprudent than the day before. But I'm sure you know the one - every disaster is an opportunity!

And this feels like a disaster, at first. This trusted object seed-head scattered. But the way the prickles gather up the fibres of the net and mesh them? I look at how this little natural seamstress makes her world. I do not need stitches. There's no need for my embroidery silk or linen thread or wire wrap. The little prickly seeds and head cling and hold this fabric like an embrace: they say, here I seed.

So the little exploded seed head - it needed the cover of your book. Here it starts and grows anew. To this point these seeds travelled and become a new start for your story; or perhaps a point along the way, once journeyed from you to me, and then transformed, wrapped in new clothes, riding back again.

And that set off the themes of your book: in my head, journeying, travelling, transforming as we go, sometimes returning like spirals to the same points, sometimes moving through time and space to land at different points, finding ourselves sometimes, perhaps in places we never expected to be.

Or the book belonging to a character you'd most like to meet from story, film, game or alter-life?

Perhaps a Knicker Drawer Book is simply a unique creation, made to hold an item that expresses you, and you alone?

But it's probably the most fun and whimsical note book you'll ever own.

For a Knicker Drawer note book is all of these: it's a place to keep the precious things of your everyday experience, whether they are daily jottings, fragile letters, your youthful billet doux, an old journey ticket, memories of good and bad times, a card from a time you want to remember, your poetry, or the heirloom recipe in grandma's handwriting. (Or even, ahem, the receipt for the hotel room you'd rather keep quiet about.)

Thank goodness you can buy Knicker Drawer Note Books!

Made with love for those of us with privacies to protect, fantasies to cherish, and life moments to save for quiet contemplation.

I can make a Knicker Drawer book for you. My first Feelings Book was made to support therapy work. Since then, I make Knicker Drawer Note Books for fun, love, and all your delightful quirks, peculiarities, and madnesses. Find them here.

Visit the quirkiest emporium in Stony Stratford: place of history on the Roman Road, the old coaching home to the Cock and Bull story, and now the happiest hunting ground for your Knicker Drawer Essential Note Book. Enjoy the artisan ice cream on the High Street. xx

What they Say

They're like books of poetry. Only we have to supply the words.

I am blown away... I really didn't expect it to be this fantastic in my hands.

I want it.

Original and beautiful.

Wonderful unique product.

I'm coming over a bit emotional.

Stunning. Stunning. Stunning.

You should sell these in Liberty's.

You should sell these in Covent Garden.

You should be in Vogue.Perfect.

Amazing.

Wow.I'm totally happy with it ... I actually squealed.

I'm addicted.

Every woman should have a KnickerDrawer NoteBook.

The other Orcs will be so jealous.Thank you so much for my lovely books. The photos do not do them justice, they are absolutely beautiful in real life. Thank you so much, I will treasure them.

You helped make the 18th birthday really special, thank you!

I've never owned such a fun book, and I love all the care with which every part has been put together, even down to the non-conformist paper clips.It's one of those things you have to have in life.

I love it! I feel like a kid again!

I'm grateful to you for making such a beautiful journal for my best friend. She was simply blown away by it all.

Once again you have taken my mishmash of ideas and turned them into something amazing!

Thank you soooooo much for creating the perfect gift for my dear friend.

The designs are beautiful, and the product is inspirational.This one. This one is My Book.

I've now got six. Is that normal?

Beautiful, generous, creative in all kinds of ways ... both contains and enhances my objects wonderfully. Each time I go through it, I see something else.

Referenced...

Commissions

Tell me what you need ...for anniversaries, special birthdays, celebration dates, ceremonies, big days, little days, sad days, happy days, family gatherings, coming-of-ages. I can make you a book for any time, person, or event.

Come See Me!

NOTE: I'm NOT there this coming November 2018! I Know. That is ODD. But I bet someone wonderful is at Stall 13. And I'll be back there in 2019. xx

Email knickerdrawernotebook@gmail.com

Crying? You're not alone

Touched by your Knicker Drawer Note Book ...

Is it normal? This leaky-eye thing?

You made my sister cry.

My daughter became a little teary...

You need to know, she cried.

It is wonderous! I have been in tears!

You have done it again, reduced me to tears, they are amazing! Thank you soooooooooomuch.

'Can I order online?'

No. Unless you count as online sending an email to knickerdrawernotebook@gmail.com telling me what you need.

All books are unique. I make them for you and the people you tell me about. I prefer to think about you, so I need a couple of weeks to create a design, collate, collect and compose.

And don't come at me, young woman with camera, telling me I 'could sell so many more if I sold online'. I'm not a box-shifter, and I don't press a button to order more stock to sell. My primary goal is not just to sell stuff. I try to make one book a day which involves being a crafter and an artist, handling real materials while wondering. Those qualities of thoughtfulness and time are important for me to stitch into the books I make. And I would rather do that than make a shed load of cash from commodity sales thank you very much. (It was a damaging encounter and I've not forgiven her.)

And, consider this... the Knicker Drawer Books are conceived as a private space, 'off-grid'. Makes no sense then to buy online.

What did you do with Yours?

Bring back your Knicker Drawer Note Book to me at a stall to tell me how it's changing ... I've seen books with pages stitched, ribboned, noted, doodled upon, pictures of Fanny the hamster, and the cover loaded with charms ... and to say thank you, I'll slip between your pages a five pound discount card towards your next book. xx